as in wary
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
a guarded man who knew better than to reveal such delicate information guarded actions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in protected
to drive danger or attack away from
guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blockaded
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point
a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guarded
Emma Fraser and Sophie Brookover, Town & Country, 21 Dec. 2022
The guarded and pessimistic mood that results from this oppression permeates this melodrama, all the way down to its muted color palette.
—Katie Rife, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2022
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
Naturally, that can’t happen with the Chiefs or any NFL team because each franchise has closely guarded secrets.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for guarded
Adjective
After his relationship with Jan (Amy Ryan) ended dramatically, Charles (Steve Martin) is even more guarded with his heart in season two.
—Emma Fraser and Sophie Brookover, Town & Country, 21 Dec. 2022
The guarded and pessimistic mood that results from this oppression permeates this melodrama, all the way down to its muted color palette.
—Katie Rife, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2022
Verb
The Denver center is just 12 for 32 in the series when being guarded by Gobert.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
Naturally, that can’t happen with the Chiefs or any NFL team because each franchise has closely guarded secrets.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for guarded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guarded
Adjective
-
Abraham Lincoln was wary of the doctrine, perceiving that any such notion of divine inevitability could be used to justify land grabs and war.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Perhaps the rest of the league owners are now wary about dealing with the Hornets.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
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That also means that any data those apps collect isn’t stored or protected to the same standards as actual medical records or patient files.—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
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Boyd and his wife founded the nonprofit Kingdom Home after a 2018 trip to Uganda in an effort to ensure Ugandan children are protected from exploitation by providing shelter, proper nutrition, career training, music lessons and medical care.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Italian police blocked the entrance to the site as the protest effectively blockaded Russia’s return for about 30 minutes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
-
Iran has blockaded the key sea lane for weeks now, triggering the biggest oil supply disruption in history.—
Spencer Kimball,Justina Lee,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The measure passed Wednesday stops short of a categorical ban that some have sought, but was still met with cautious optimism by traffic safety reformers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
The defense, which only improved post-Olympics after Paul Coffey returned behind the bench, collapsed in front of an incredibly cautious goaltending tandem.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Putin has defended the restrictions as necessary for public safety.—
Zahra Ullah,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
Trump has defended the gift as a way to save tax dollars.—
Jonathan J. Cooper,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said the suspect had barricaded himself inside a residence alone and was refusing to come out, leading to a SWAT callout.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Now, TikTokers are reporting that the front-door handles have been removed and the entrances have been barricaded.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 May 2026
-
Through some careful engineering, Roberts, Alito, and their allies have created a trap for voting-rights cases.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Our elections must be safeguarded from foreign interference.—
Kevin Fixler
May 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 May 2026
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The system successfully protected the data center from grid instability and also safeguarded the grid from the major load swings generated by the data center.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guarded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guarded. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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